Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Last Art Show of the Season





It has been a little 'difficult' on my body...
getting back into the arts and crafts shows.

My dear husband MUST have done most of the physical
work...setting up and tearing down...
all those years we did the shows together.


We started doing shows in the early eighties...
and
I hadn't done a show since 2004...so I had quite forgotten
the late hours doing 'finishing' work
the night before the show...the long hours of
'set-up'...getting our space
JUST right...

the VERY early hours (for me)
on show days..

but..in spite of it all...I am really enjoying it!

I love 'mixing' with the other artisans...
giving and receiving helpful tips and sound advice...
(we got SOOOO many comments from the other artisans...
saying we REALLY need to get into some Omaha shows...
we'll see.)


Here are 10 Things we have learned from the shows...

1. Try to have EVERYTHING ready a day or two before set-up.
2. Get to bed early, the night before the show...it is important
to be 'alert' enough to interact with others.
3. Don't judge the results of each show...just on show sales.
(We have sold a number of original paintings...as well as
commissioned paintings...through our Etsy Shops...
from folks taking our business cards at the show.)

4. Be 'open' to what others have to tell you...most of the time
they are just trying to help.

5. Don't get too excited when folks whip out their camera (or phone) to
take pictures of your 'stuff'...especially when they think you're not looking...
it's going to happen!

6. Have 'something for everyone'...at least in every price range..
not everyone brings hundreds...or even twenties..of dollars
to a show. Sometimes they've just come to 'look'...
and they're pleasantly surprised to come upon your space
and see how beautiful your 'stuff' is.

7. Be real! (This is important on sooo many levels.)

8. Share your experience with the
other artisans. If you think their 'stuff' is great
and would benefit from a larger audience..give them the benefit
of your own exposure.

9. Expect to do well...and bring a positive attitude.

10. Build a local following...and spread out from there.


So...we have just ONE more show
in 2009...

December 5th and 6th.

I look for it to be a
really GREAT show!
To all of the folks who have visited our booth
at the State Fair
and
all of the shows at the Event Center...
thank you!
We hope you have a wonderful
Holiday Season!


Sunday, November 22, 2009

CMZ Art....What's New?


I have been asked by several
collectors
if I am going to reopen my
CMZ Art Etsy Shop.
Sadly...I am not.
Perhaps it was the turn of economy,
but I couldn't maintain both shops and Iopted
to keep the Rustic Goth Shop,
since it was doing better.
I still do business as CMZ Art
though...on Zibbet.
Presently I only have prints available
there, however....
I will be posting original tree paintings,
poppy paintings
and other 'nature-inspired' paintings
as early as next week.
We only have one
art show left to do this year...
(getting ready for the shows have taken most
of my time the past few months)
and since I do like to keep myself busy,
I will be doing some original
paintings especially for CMZ Art.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

I have a new Show to add to my Favorites!


I do like my "reality" TV....for the most part...
they are 'no-brainer' forms of entertainment.
I ran acrossed a new program
on
Bravo...called
I find Chef Novelli to be quite
entertaining and somewhat charming.
He seems to love 'Columbo'...remember
the detective show with Peter Falk as Colombo...
Since I spend as much time alone as I do..
I do like to have some program or other running
for background noise if no other reason...
that's what I thought this program might end up being.
Who knew I would end up liking it so much...from the very first episode!!

Monday, November 16, 2009

A new LOOK for my Blog.

I visited The Cutest Blog on the Block again...
and found a 'new look for my blog'...
I wanted this blog
to be 'green'
and this background worked just
right.
And...in the meantime...
I started
yet ANOTHER blog...
I needed a way to chronicle
the 'goings on' of my day...everyday...
and thought I'd
do it in a separate blog.





Wednesday, November 11, 2009

A Nifty FREE Site

I found a nifty FREE site
while reading someone else's blog...
it's called
They have free backgrounds, templates,
blinkies (like the one I inserted.."I Love Comments")
and a lot more.
I don't have any affiliation with this blog...
just thought it had some really nifty features
and wanted to 'pass it along':)

Friday, November 6, 2009

On My Husband's Birthday

Today is my husband's birthday...
he would have been 63 years old.
I choose to 'celebrate' his life...
it was so rich and full...
and, though I am somewhat 'predjudiced',
he really was
'one in a million'!
We had 35 wonderful years together
and my life has been so enriched as a result!
So...today....I want to celebrate
and be thankful for the time that we had!


Monday, November 2, 2009

Bring Back Meerkat Manor


I am not sure how I ever got
'hooked'
on this show.
But I did....so much so
that I started recording all of the
re-runs weekday afternoons.
I've probably watched the first couple of seasons
five or six times.
This morning I was watching a couple
of squirrels romping in my backyard
and got to thinking about the meerkats.
So...I went out to find out the 'status' of any future shows
and found this petition.
It seems that the Animal Planet has cancelled the
show....for what reason I'm not sure...but, I can't
get into any of the other shows they have on....
the way they studied the meerkat families was quite
fascinating and I'd really like to see more.